DSD vs DSF vs DFF Files Audio. What is difference [Article]

Audio Basis - educational articles

Read below about difference between DSD, DSF, DFF files audio.

DSD (Direct Stream Digital) is one bit audio format for high resolution music. The format based on sigma delta modulation. Read details about DSD >

Music in DSD format may be stored into DSF and DFF files (.dsf and .dff file extensions respectively). Both DFF and DSF are DSD files.

I.e. DSD files is common term, that include both DFF and DSF audio files.

 

DSD vs. DSF vs. DFF files

 

However besides these kind of files, SACD ISO (.iso extension, 1-bit audio ISO) is DSD file too. SACD ISO contains text metadata, that may be extracted during SACD ISO to DSD conversion.

 

 

 

Sometimes one bit DSD considered as more qualitative alternative for multi bit PCM. However it is not simple matter, that defined by implementation. Read more about DSD vs. PCM >

 

 

 

All DSD files (DSF, DFF, ISO) may be converted each to other without loses, when conversion don't alter sample rate.

 

DSD conversion

 

DSD resampling and other processing (even elementary gain changing) lose quality, comparable with PCM resampling. However it is not big matter for pro-audio processing.

 

Read more about:

• DSD converters [DSD converter: What inside  >]
   
• how to  convert DSF to FLAC >

 

 

 

DSD playback may be implemented two ways:

• Convert to PCM and playback at PCM DAC (digital analog converter),
• Playback straight at DSD DAC.

In general, second option is preferable. But real result depend on hardware and software implementation.

 

Read below about DSF vs. DFF playback, compression, editing issues ↓

 

 

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Playback sound quality is the same for both DFF and DSF.

 

DSF and DFF on DSD file player

 

DFF file don't support music metadata (song name, album, performer, artwork) standard way. However, the metadata may be stored as ID3 format into DFF file's chunk (internal data block). For access to the metadata, DFF file player must be able to recognize ID3-chunks.

DSF specification support the metadata. However may be issues with artwork size and/or resolution for DSF audio player.

To playback multichannel music at DSD player, the music is downmixed into stereo on fly. Sound quality of downmixing is implementation matter. To save hard disk space, you can pre-downmix it.

Read more about DSD players >

 

 

 

Current DSF specification note raw uncompressed packing only [1].

DFF may be stored as uncompressed as compressed by DST (Direct Stream Transfer) method [2].

 

 

DSF vs. DFF editing

From sound quality point of view, for editing DSD files, file format is not matter.

Read more about DSD editing >

 

 

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Read more about:

• DSD audio format [What is DSD] >
   
• DFF file format [What is DFF] >
   
• DSF file format [What is DSF] >

 

 

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Read more about DSD

1. What is DSD audio >
2. DSD vs. PCM. Real competitors? >
3. DSD Decoder Audio >
4. How work sigma delta modulation in audio >
5. DSD Converter of Audio Files: What Inside? >
6. What is Audio Formats DSD 2.8 DSD64 DSD5.6 DSD128 DSD256 DSD512 DSD1024 >
7. DSD vs DSF vs DFF Files Audio. What is difference >

 

 

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1. DSF file format. DSF extension >
2. How open DSF files audio >
3. DSF to PCM converter >
4. DSF File Converter >
5. DSF oversampling. D64 vs. D128 >
6. Audio Converter DSF to FLAC >
7. How Impact to Audio Quality of PCM to DSF Conversion. 1-bit DSF vs. PCM >

 

Additional links

1. DSF file format specification
2. DFF specification
3. DSD file samples (music)
4. DSF test signal files

 

 

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